Gyratory self-propelled projectile



Jan. 28, 1964 J. R. JASSE GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8. 1961 J. R. JASSE GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE Jan. 28, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8. 1961 Jan. 28, 1964 J. R. JASSE GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8. 1961 Jan. 28, 1964 J, M955 3,119,303

GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE Filed Aug. 8. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,119,303 GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTHLE Joseph Raymond Jasse, Paris, France, assignor to Hutchkrss-Brandt, Paris, France, a French body corporation Filed Aug. 8, 1961, er. No. 130,082 Claims priority, application France Sept. 23, 196i) 4 Claims. (Cl. 89-1.7)

The present invention relates to a gyratory self-pro pelled projectile so improved as to have an excellent shape index, good stability on its trajectory and high effectiveness.

This projectile comprises a slender ogive containing the self-propelling charge, an elongated cylindrical body of steel which contains an explosive charge and is located between a base having a gas ejection nozzle and an ejectable igniting device for igniting the self-propelling charge, said ogive and said base being of light metal alloy.

The slender ogive affords a good shape index without need for a false ogive while fullest possible use is made of the volume available for housing the propelling charge.

Owing to the lightening of the ends of the projectile due to the fact that the ogive and base are of light alloy, there is obtained an increase in the length of the projectile expressed in terms of calibre relative to that of a conventional projectile without alfecting stability on the trajectory.

Placing the self-propelling powder in the ogive permits also increasing the amount of this powder and obtaining, on the one hand, good stability after combustion of the propelling powder notwithstanding the increased speed without increase in the speed of gyration, since the transverse moment of inertia through the centre of gravity of the projectile diminishes in a non-negligible manner with disappearance of the propelling powder, and, on the other hand, a very high effectiveness on impact, since the rear part of the projectile containing the explosive charge is detonated at a level above the ground corresponding to the length of the ogive.

The fact that practically the whole of the steel which furnishes the splinters is located in the cylindrical wall (no explosive in the ogive) still further augments the effectiveness of the projectile.

According to another feature, when the projectile is intended to be launched in a gun tube by an auxiliary launching charge, the device for igniting the propelling charge includes a pyrotechnic time train whose ignition is brought about by the pressure of the gas of the launching powder exerted through a fluid-tight membrane which prevents any direct action of this pressure on the time train and therefore improves the regularity of the time train combustion.

The projectile further comprises a priming fuse for priming the explosive charge utilizing a pyrotechnic train breaking arrangement and having an electric detonator, and a piezo-electric ogive fuse connected to said priming fuse by a printed circuit provided on the outer face of the ogive.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings to which the invention is in no way limited.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view on a small scale, with 3,119,363 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 parts cut away, of a projectile improved in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on a plane parallel with the plane of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale, of the rear self-propelling charge igniting device;

FIG. 3 is a corresponding elevational view partly in section along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 7 on a scale larger than that of FIG. 1, of the primer fuse for the explosive charge;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line 77 of FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-S of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view along line 99 of FIG. 8.

According to the present embodiment, the projectile comprises (FIG. 1): a hollow cylindrical body A of steel containing the explosive charge B, a forward ogive C of light alloy fixed to the body A and containing the selfpropelling powder D, a rear base E also of light alloy fixed to the body A and including a nozzle F for ejection of the self-propelling gases, and an ejectable device G for igniting with a time delay the self-propelling powder D, the explosive charge B being ignited by an electric primer fuse H fed with current by a piezo-electric ogive fuse J.

The body A, the ogive C and the base E are bodies of revolution about the longitudinal axis X-X of the projectile.

The body A is provided externally at 1 with a conven tional belt or band for rotating the projectile when the latter is fired in a gun tube T having a rifled bore.

The slender ogive C is fixed to the body A by screws 2, fluid-tightness being obtained by means of a sealing ring 3. The base E is screwed at 4 in the body A, fluid-tightness being obtained by means of a sealing ring 5.

The nozzle block F with the igniting device G is screwed in the base 6, fluid-tightness being obtained by means of a sealing ring 7, and the device G is held stationary in the nozzle body 8 by a riveted-over tin ring 9.

The explosive charge B is provided with an axial composite tube It) integral with the forward part 11 of the body A of the projectile and engaged at its rear end in the base E, fluid-tightness being obtained by means of a sealing ring 12. The inner face of the tube 10 is protected by a heat-insulating layer 13.

In the extension of the axial passageway formed by the tube 10, the self-propelling charge D comprises a longitudinal passageway 14 having a star-shaped cross section permitting its combustion by the inner face, ignition being caused by the flames emanating from the firing device G and passing through the axial tube 10. The outer face of the powder cake D comprises a combustioninhibiting layer 15.

The rear device G for igniting the propelling charge D is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4. It comprises a cylindro-conical body 116 blocked in position by the tin ring 9 in the body 8 so that its longitudinal axis coincides with the axis XX of the projectile. This body comprises in its forward part a pyro-technic time delay device I and, at the rear of the latter, an igniting device II including a primer, firing pin and safety means whereby ignition of powder.

a a the pyrotechnic delay device is possible only after the projectile has issued from the launching tube T.

The time delay device comprises: a rear chamber 17 filled with loose powder 18 and communicating with the exterior of the projectile by way of an air vent 19 closed by a plug 20 held in position by a slight riveting, fluidtightness being obtained by means of a sealing ring 21. The time delay device further comprises a fuse portion of powder 22 disposed in an aperture 23 formed in a member 24 which is of plastic material and has a coefiicient of expansion in the neighbourhood of that of the powder 22 so that any rise in the surrounding temperature is not liable to create a free passage between the powder 22 and the aperture 23 which would otherwise permit the flames emanating from the igniting device II to bypass this The time delay device also comprises a long train of black fuse powder 25 compressed in recesses and apertures of a metal member 26; the rear end 27 of the train 25 is in direct contact with the powder 22 and its forward end 28 is in contact with an axial train of fuse powder 29 disposed in an axial passageway 30 in a member 31 which is attached to the body 16 and blocks therein, at the rear, the members 24 and 26.

The igniting device II comprises: a primer carrier 32 whose primer 33 is placed axially just behind the chamber 17 and a firing pin 34 movable forwardly under the etfect of a percussion spring 35 contained in an aperture 36 formed in a firing pin carrier 37.

The firing pin carrier is transversely movable in a cylindrical cavity 38 which has an axis YY perpendicular to the axis XX and is formed in the body 17 and closed in a fluid-tight manner, for example by a plug 39 which bears against a sealing ring 40.

The firing pin carrier 37 has, in the direction of the transverse axis YY, a length less than that of the cavity 38 so that it is slidable therein between two positions without turning, for the reason explained hereinafter. In the first position, of rest, shown in FIG. 2, the axis 2-2 of the pin 34 and of its cavity 36 which is parallel with the axis XX, is eccentric or offset a distance e relative to the latter, so that, on the one hand, the pin 34 is not in alignment with the percussion aperture 41 provided in the body 16 just behind the primer 33 and, on the other hand, the centre of gravity at G of the assembly, consisting of the firing pin carrier 37 and the elements carried thereby,

is also eccentric to, but on the other side of, the axis XX. The second position constitutes the armed position in which, due to the effect of centrifugal force, the centre of gravity has moved away from the axis XX so that the axis ZZ coincides with the latter and the pin 34 is in alignment with the percussion aperture 41.

, It will be observed that for all positions of the firing pin carrier except the armed position, the firing pin 34 is held in the retracted position, in opposition to the action of the spring 35, by a locking device 42 (FIG. 3) which is movable in an aperture 43 in the firing pin carrier and bears against the wall of the cavity 38, this cavity comprising a middle groove 44 into which the locking device 42 can retract in the armed position.

The firing pin carrier is combined with control and locking means which are so adapted as to allow its displacement under the effect of centrifugal force only after igni- 'tion of an auxiliary launching charge L (FIG. 1) located in the breech of the launching gun tube.

These means comprise a locking member constituted by a rod 45 (FIGS. 3 and 4) slidable but not rotatable in a passageway 46 which is formed in the body 16 in such position that it intersects the cavity 38 in alignment with the groove 44. In the part of intersection, the rod 45 is engaged in a recess 47 in the firing pin carrier 37 This recess has a flat bottom and extends up to the end of the firing pin carrier adjacent the plug 39 so as not to hinder the movement of the firing pin carrier from the retracted position of rest to the armed position. Further, the rod '45 bears against this flat bottom by a flat face 48 which 4 locks the firing pin carrier 37 as concerns rotation about the axis YY and also prevents the rod from rotating in the passageway 46.

The firing pin carrier 37 comprises at the forward end of the recess 47 a notch 49 having an arcuate crosssectional shape and such position and dimensions (FIG. 4) that the portion of the rod 45 immediately adjacent the forward end of the flat face 48 is engaged therein when the striker carrier is in its position of rest, that is, is retracted as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

At the rear, the locking rod 45 extends into a cavity 53, which is formed in the rear face 51 of the body 16 and whose forward face 52 is concave. Within this cavity, the rod 45 is integral with a membrane constituting a deformable diaphragm 53 held against a sealing ring 54 in a fluid-tight manner by a screw-threaded ring 55.

The igniting device G operates in the following manner:

On firing, the pressure of the gas of the launching powder presses on the diaphragm 53 and the latter bears against the concave face 52, gas-tightness being ensured by the sealing ring 54. The locking rod 45 is moved forwardly in the direction of the arrow f (FIG. 3) and leaves the notch 49 of the firing pin carrier 37 and the latter is released but remains stationary as concerns rota tion owing to the action of the flat face 48 of the rod 47 and along the transverse cavity 38, it being urged against the rear portion of the cylindrical face of this cavity by the action of inertia, so long as the projectile accelerates, in opposition to the action of centrifugal force developed by the rotation of the projectile about its axis XX. But, as soon as this acceleration ceases, the firing pin carrier 37, which is urged by the centrifugal force, moves in the cavity 38 in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 2) and as soon as the firing pin 34 arrives in front of the primer 33, the pin 42 which normally locks the firing pin, withdraws into the groove 44 and the percussion spring 35 throws the firing pin against the primer 33. The latter ignites the black powder loosely disposed at '18 in the chamber 17 and the pyrotechnic time delay train (22- 25).

The pressure created by this combustion blows out the plug of the vent 20 thereby allowing evacuation of the gas produced by the time delay powder. At the end of the combustion of this time delay powder, the black powder 29 contained in the passageway 30 is ignited and the resulting jet ignites by way of the tube 10 the selfpropelling powder cake D. The pressure of the gas due to the combustion of this powder expells the plug constituted by the igniting device G by shearing the ring 9' and thus opens the nozzle F. The gas ejected thenceforth through this nozzle propels the projectile.

It should be noted that in the illustnated arrangement, the percussion of the primer 33 can only take place after the projectile has left the launching tube. If the projectile should remain wedged in this tube, the firing pin carrier 37 remains motionless since there is no centrifugal force and consequently there is no ignition of the primer.

The primer fuse H (FIGS. 5-9) adapted to ignite the explosive charge B is disposed in the forward part of the body A of the projectile and in an eccentric position relative to the axis X-X and in actual contact with this charge. It comprises a body having a plurality of adjacent elements (FIGS. 5 and 8): a cover 56 (which screws 57 secure to the body A of the projectile in an opening 58 in the latter, fluid-tightness of this body being obtained by means of a sealing ring 59), a washer 60 Which is electrically insulating, an element 61 (constituting a housing containing an electric primer-detonator), an insulating washer 63, and the case 64 of a booster with its cover 65, these elements being assembled by longitudinally extending screws 66 (FIGS. 5-7).

A detonator carrier 67 of insulating material is disposed in the element 61, is pivotable about a longitudinal pivot pin 68 and contains an electric primer-detonator 69 of any known type. At rest, the detonator carrier 67 is in the position shown in full line in FIG. 7. In this position, the primer-detonator 69 is offset relative to an aperture 70 adapted to transmit the explosion of the detonator to the charge 11 of the booster.

The detonator carrier 67 is locked in this retracted position by longitudinal locking means 72 slidable in an aperture 73 (FIG. in the insulating washer 63 and is maintained in its operative protruding position in the housing of the detonator carrier by a spring 74. The downward retraction of the locking means 72 permits the detonator carrier 67 to move under the elfect of of centrifugal force to the armed position 67a shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 7.

The electric primer-detonator '69 has two poles: one pole being constituted by a central rod 75 in contact with a pin 76, and the other pole by the metal case 77 of the primer (see the cut-away portion in FIG. 5). At rest, the two poles of the primer are short-circuited owing to their contact with a spring strip 78 connected to one of the poles of the piezo-electric fuse I by a fixing screw 79, a spring strip 80, a screw 81 and a circuit 82 printed on the outer face of the ogive C with interposition of an insulating layer 82a of plastic material (FIG. 7).

F or the purpose of a normal feeding of the primer when the detonator carrier 67 has assumed the operative position 67a shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 7 (in which, if the axial pole 75 remains, through the medium of the pin 76, in contact with the spring 78, the other pole constituted by the case 77 ceases to be in contact with the spring 78), there is provided another spring strip =83 (FIGS. 7 and 8) with which the case 77 then comes into contact. The spring 83 is connected to the other pole of the fuse I by a screw 84, a spring strip '85, a screw -86 and a second circuit 87 printed on the outer face of the ogive C with interposition of another insulating iayer 87a (FIGS. 7 and 8).

The fuse H operates in the following manner:

On firing, the locking means 72 retracts under the effect of inertia in opposition to the action of the spring 74 and, after positive acceleration ceases, this locking means is prevented from rising owing to a small lateral displacement caused by the centrifugal force which shifts it to an eccentric position relative .to the passage aperture 72 formed in the washer 63.

Owing to the centrifugal force, the detonator-carrier turns about the pin 68 to the position 67a shown in dotdash line in FIG. 7 in which the pyrotechnic chain or train is closed, the primer-detonat-or 69 being located in alignment with the aperture 70 which communicates with the interior of the booster 71. In the course of this pivotal movement of the detonator-carrier, the pin 76 slides along the spring 78 and therefore remains in electrical contact therewith whereas the case 77 of the primer leaves this spring and comes into contact with the spring strip 83. The two poles 75 and 77 are therefore each connected to one of the poles of the fuse I. The primer 69 is therefore ready to explode as soon as the fuse I creates, on impact, a difference of potential between its terminals.

This difference of potential is applied to the primer 69 of the fuse H by means of the printed circuit 8287 which causes the explosion of this primer followed by the ignition of the booster charge 71. The booster case 64 is incapable of resisting the ignited booster charge 71 and the burning gases pass out of this case 64 and ignite the explosive charge B.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having now described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Gyratory self-propelled projectile adapted to be launched from a launching tube by means of an auxiliary launching charge located at the rear of the projectile, said projectile having a forward end and a rear end and comprising an ogive disposed at said forward end, a propelling charge disposed in the ogive for propelling the projectile, a projectile base disposed at said rear end, a cylindrical body interposed between and interconnecting the ogive and the base, an explosive charge disposed in the body, a gas ejection nozzle provided in the base for ejection of gases produced by the propelling charge, means defining a passageway extending longiltudinally of the projectile and putting the gas ejection nozzle in communication with the propelling charge, a flame-producing igniting device for igniting the propelling charge, the igniting device obturating the nozzle but being ejectable from the nozzle by the gases from the propelling charge and comprising an igniting device body, a pyrotechnic time delay device in the igniting device body and communicating with the passageway, initiating means in the igniting device body for igniting the pyrotechnic time delay device and responsive to the pressure of the gases from said auxiliary launching charge, and a deformable flexible membrane mounted in the igniting device body in a fluid-tight manner for preventing entry in the igniting device body of the gases from the auxiliary launching charge and operatively connected to the initiating means so as to transmit to the latter means the pressure of the gases of the auxiliary launching charge when launching the projectile.

2. Gyratory self-propelled projectile adapted to be launched from a launching tube by means of an auxiliary launching charge located at the rear of the projectile, said projectile having a forward end and a rear end and comprising an ogive disposed at said forward end, a propelling charge disposed in the ogive for propelling the projectile, a projectile base disposed at said rear end, a cylindrical body interposed between and interconnecting the ogive and the base, an explosive charge disposed in the body, gas ejection nozzle provided in the base for ejection of gases produced by the propelling charge, means defining a passageway extending longitudinally of the projectile and putting the gas ejection nozzle in communication with the propelling charge, a flame-producing igniting device for igniting the propelling charge, the igniting device obturating the nozzle but being ejectable from the nozzle by the gases from the propelling charge and comprising an igniting device body, a pyrotechnic time delay device in the igniting device body and communicating with the passageway, initiating means in the igniting device body for igniting the pyrotechnic time delay device, said initiating means comprising a primer charge, a firing pin carrier, a firing pin carried by the carrier, the firing pin carrier being movable transversely of the projectile between an inoperative position of rest in which the firing pin is out of alignment with the primer charge and an operative position in which the firing pin is in alignment with the primer charge, retractable locking means having a locking position in which it engages the firing pin carrier and maintains it in said inoperative position, a deformable membrane mounted in the igniting device body in a fluid-tight manner for preventing entry into the igniting device body of the gases from the auxiliary launching charge, the locking means being operatively connected to the membrane so that when the projectile is launched in the launching tube the pressure of the gases from the auxiliary launching charge deforms the membrane and the membrane retracts the locking means from said locking position.

3. Projectile as claimed in claim 2, wherein the firing pin carrier has a centre of gravity which is laterally offset from the axis of gyration of the projectile so that the carrier tends to move from the inoperative position to the operative position under the efiect of centrifugal force.

4. Projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the initiating means comprises a percussion spring supported in the firing pin carrier and biasing the firing pin toward the primer charge, a retractable locking member mounted on the firing pin carrier to retain the firing pin in opposi- -tion to the action of the percussion spring in the locking position of the locking member, and retaining means cooperating with the locking member for retaining the locking member in the locking position thereof in the-inoperative position of the firing pin carrier and but releasing the locking member and allowing the latter member to retract from the firing pin in the operative position of the firing pin carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,145,508 Denoix Jan. 31, 1939 

1. GYRATORY SELF-PROPELLED PROJECTILE ADAPTED TO BE LAUNCHED FROM A LAUNCHING TUBE BY MEANS OF AN AUXILIARY LAUNCHING CHARGE LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE PROJECTULE, SAID PROJECTILE HAVING A FORWARD END AND A REAR END AND CMPRISING AN OGIVE DISPOSED AT SAID FORWARD END, A PROPELLING CHARGE DISPOSED IN THE OGIVE FOR PROPELLING THE PROJECTILE, A PROJECTILE BASE DISPOSED AT SAID REAR END, A CYLINDRICAL BODY INTERPOSED BETWEEN AND INTERCONNECTING THE OGIVE AND THE BASE, AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE DISPOSED IN THE BODY, A GAS EJECTION NOZZLE PROVIDED IN THE BASE FOR EJECTION OF GASES PRODUCED BY THE PROPELLING CHARGE, MEANS DEFINING A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE PROJECTILE AND PUTTING THE GAS EJECTION NOZZLE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROPELLING CHARGE, A FLAME-PRODUCING IGNITING DEVICE FOR IGNITING THE PROPELLING CHARGE, THE IGNITING DEVICE OBTURATING THE NOZZLE BUT BEING EJECTABLE FROM THE NOZZLE BY THE GASES FROM THE PROPELLING CHARGE AND COMPRISING AN IGNITING DEVICE BODY, A PYROTECHNIC TIME DELAY DEVICE IN THE IGNITING DEVICE BODY AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE PASSAGEWAY, INITIATING MEANS IN THE IGNITING DEVICE BODY FOR IGNITING THE PYROTECHNIC TIME DELAY DEVICE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESSURE OF THE GASES FROM SAID AUXILIARY LAUNCHING CHARGE, AND A DEFORMABLE FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE MOUNTED IN THE IGNITING DEVICE BODY IN A FLUID-TIGHT MANNER FOR PREVENTING ENTRY IN THE IGNITING DEVICE BODY OF THE GASES FROM THE AUXILIARY LAUNCHING CHARGE AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE INITIATING MEANS SO AS TO TRANSMIT TO THE LATTER MEANS THE PRESSURE OF THE GASES OF THE AUXILIARY LAUNCHING CHARGE WHEN LAUNCHING THE PROJECTILE. 